Happy New Year! The Handmade Tile Association 14th annual directory is at the printer currently and will be mailed directly to each of our members and our entire mailing list. Thanks to all of the artists, advertisers, members, and organizations. Without the community help, this directory would not be possible. The directory is another great collaboration of tile artists and the tile community, to collectively showcase and inspire everyone who picks up a copy of the directory to want handmade tiles in their lives.

Every advertising artist and advertiser will be sent a case of directories free of charge in late January. If you are interested in more, please tell us and we will mark you down for as many as you believe you can hand out. If you are local to the Twin Cities and can pick up your stash, please visit the Handmade Tile Association office. Click here for directions.

We are looking for a volunteer to help mail the directories to all of the members. Please contact Josh if you would like to help.

The Handmade Tile Association website has been updated with all of the new advertisers and artists. Please check your link and make sure it works. If it does not please contact us and we will fix it promptly. If you want to change out your image send us an updated graphic you want us to use and we can switch it out. www.handmadetileassociation.org

Goals for 2013

It is always helpful to set a series of goals for both the organization and the members to have a path to follow. Here are the top 6 goals for 2013.

1. Refine the Minnesota Tile Festival to a more specific audience.

2. Work on display cases for the directories.

3. A new website that is more interactive with visitors.

4. Double our social media presence.

5. Engage members to be involved in the planning of events and programs.6. Get testimonials from members on the effectiveness of the HTA

Minnesota Tile Festival 2013

Designer: Nicole Larson showcasing Dean Tile

Tile Festival Coordinator Needed

At the next meeting the tile festival will be a top discussion. We have not had anyone come forward wanting to take over the coordinating of the show as of yet. It might be more realistic for a committee of 3 to 4 people to help with the coordination.

The Handmade Tile Association has hired Trebuchet Communications to help us run and promote the show. This will help the committee work as a team and help shape how your ideas on improving the show really develop.

One of the questions discussed was whether the festival should be opened to a broader group of participants including fashion designers, potters, interior designers, tile setters, historic tile vendors and others.

A motion was made to expand the festival offerings beyond tile to include fashion booths and pottery, jewelry, sinks and related tile merchandise. The motion was passed unanimously.

The Handmade Tile Association is a marketing organization. However, it is also important to have marketing for the organization itself. Here is a list of projects we have hired the marketing group Trebuchet to do for the organization and the members...

Facebook posts, January through December 2013, four per week

Monthly meeting attendance by one of the Trebuchet staff, January through October

Monthly newsletter column "Trebuchet's tricks of the trade" (or similar) January through December

Small business workshop

Specialty marketing instructions packet and pricing for HTA members

MN Tile Festival-specific activities

MN Tile Festival event on-site coordination

MN Tile Festival banners and posters

Solicitation of schools for MN Tile Festival attendance through sent info and on-site visits

Fashion show with media/photographer and sound coordination

Testimonials

Elfstone Studio

The Handmade Tile Association is looking for advertisers, members and followers to write a short testimonial for the organization. It is important that they hear voices in the community why they think the directory, the Spotlight on Artists, the newsletter, the website, meetings, what ever you belive is valuable, relevant and important that we can utilize to help us grow. It does not have to be very long probably a few sentences to a paragraph is what we looking for but I will leave it to what ever you would would like to say.

New 2013 Directories will be available! Get your free stash to hand out.

Discuss the 2013 MN Tile Festival and the call for a coordinator

Setting members' goals for 2013

Show and share new work, projects and ideas.

If you are not in the Minnesota region, consider creating a meeting of tile and mosaic artists in your area. The HTA can promote your meeting through this newsletter and on the website, Facebook, and Linked in. It is a great way to learn and promote tile ideas.